Chapter 16

They had held hands and walked the path between Sookie's house and the old Compton estate (as Sookie had called it), through a graveyard that dated back to the civil war. Neither had said a word, they had not needed it. Her wrist had healed completely, as Andre had known it would, and the bond between them had strengthened, as he had wished for. Just shy of the full view of the dilapidated antebellum home, still concealed by the overhang of the weeping trees and Spanish moss Sookie pulled on Andre's hand to stop, and then pulled his body into a long kiss. Finally breaking the silence.

"Thank you." She whispered to him, lips still pressed to his cheek, body still pressed to his.

"I could not let you suffer, not when it was my fault." His fingers ran through her hair; combing it out from the knot it had been tied into.

"How could my clumsiness be your fault?"

"It was my blood that gave you the dreams that distracted you."

"Oh, and what dreams they were." And she kissed him again. He could not help but laugh against her mouth as she did so; not something he was at all used to doing, but something that seemed so natural just then.

"My blood has certainly given you courage." He remarked.

"If that's what you want to call it." It was Sookie's turn to laugh, and yelp just a little as Andre pulled her back into his chest, showing off some of his vampyric strength.

"How could I have ever counted myself happy before I met you Sookie?" The gaze he focused into her eyes made her tremble in his embrace.

"How is it you always know just what to say Andre?"

"You inspire me." He twirled her around, lifting her off her feet for a few moments. Her hair, now free of its bindings, floated around her head like a halo, or whatever the Fairy equivalent of that was, and Andre let himself be enveloped by it. Since she had taken his blood her aura had grown and changed to so much more than just the scent of her otherness and the beat of her sexuality. He felt the bonding beginning to link them together, and he was happy in a complete way that he had never considered possible of himself.

Their walk home was punctuated by simple conversations, and light footfalls through the cemetery. It never occurred to either of them to even be concerned with a possible supernatural encounter, despite the location and the history, and Sookie seemed blissfully unaware of what surrounded her. It was Andre who felt it, and because of his heightened vision, saw it: a dog, (but not just a dog) padding along to his left, weaving amongst the dilapidated tombstones, holding to the shadows as much as it could. He kept himself between it and Sookie, but he knew full well who it was: Sam Merlotte. It followed them almost all the way back to Sookie's home, Andre could hear its panting even when it disappeared behind a tree or stone. He kept every measure of concern to himself though, and guided Sookie up to her porch, his facade never changing.

Most of the lights in the house were dimmed, but a flickering through incompletely drawn curtains betrayed the television, though its volume was significantly lowered. A shuffling met their footsteps on the wooden slats and Adele opened the door. Andre hoped that the shifter was taking careful note of the greetings.

"Welcome home you two."

"You didn't have to wait up for us Gran." Sookie stepped through the open door and Andre followed, grinning as he looked back at the collie that had finally stepped away from the tree line.

"I just wanted to make certain that you were both okay before I went to bed."

"It was very kind of you Adele." He said as the door closed.

ooOOoo

Anxiety was not in the nature of the average Vampire. Besides some obvious concerns: feeding, and a light tight place to sleep, there wasn't much that caused them stress, or at least there hadn't been up until the point of the revelation. Andre suspected, as he rolled over in his bed, that much was about to change, and not only for himself. As much as the risen sun pulled at him he could not rest. He knew that he was running out of time, and his normal patience had been pulled to its very limit. The appearance of Sam Merlotte surveilling them hadn't helped; neither had the letter from Sophie Ann, waiting at his door, in the hand of Eric Northman, begging/ordering him to return to her side. He had a night, perhaps two at the most by his reckoning of her needs, before she would make good on her threat to come to Bon Temps. And while she might never know of Sookie's true gift, she would become enamored of the girl, her beauty, and her innocence, and she would seek to bend and corrupt her by whatever means she could. Andre could not bear the thought of his Sookie being turned into an addicted Renfrew of sorts, under the spell and control of the queen, and well beyond his grasp. It would also be likely then that something would have to be done with Hadley, a task that would fall to him: Sophie Ann had become used to keeping her hands clean. While Andre had no compunction about killing the woman, someday Sookie might discover it, and then there would be no chance of redeeming himself. It was a terrible paradox.

Northman's composed smile, and reek of disdain had done nothing to improve Andre's disposition. His threat had been well received, and Andre sorted out rather quickly, that Northman was also looking for a way to rid himself of the interloper to his Area. It would not have surprised Andre in the least if Northman had made some type of passive-aggressive comment to Sophie Ann himself to prompt her hurried recall. The cowardly act (in Andre's estimation), was not worthy of a Vampire such as Northman, but, of course, when one's child, or bonded was threatened, many rationales were discarded.

And now that Sam Merlotte was aware that Andre had remained in Bon Temps, and had made a friend of Sookie there was no telling what he might do. Merlotte could expose his position to Sookie, or at the least spread lies (half-truths) about him to her. Every terrible eventuality of how he could lose her played itself out over and over in his mind, even past the point of the bleeds, the rivulets staining his pillow and sheets. When he eventually gave in it was to fits and starts of rest, and on waking he felt exhausted and out of control. Though the hot water was often a release, even a shower did not help him. Only when he let his mind reach out to touch hers, however unknown the sensation must have been to Sookie, did Andre finally find a way to ground himself. Though he struggled to hold his grip tight to that control in the face of the obstacles he encountered as he returned to Bon Temps that evening.

"Returning to Bon Temps this night then?" It was not a voice that Andre wanted to hear as he emerged from the condominium building in Shreveport, into the darkened street. He nearly laughed with the frustration he was feeling.

"It is not your concern where the Queen's business takes me Sherriff."

"The Queen's business? I had believed that to be concluded, and that she had asked you to return to New Orleans."

"Have you taken to opening private correspondence then Northman?"

Eric ignored the question; no doubt playing to the script he had plotted out, designed to unhinge Andre, and put him at the disadvantage. Andre had no intention of falling victim to that trap; to be provoked into lashing out at a Sherriff would only give others cause to examine his activities more closely. (And he couldn't very well just send Northman to his final death, there would be even more questions.) The gambit was a careful one.

"My business is nearly concluded Sherriff."

"Ah, then I shall tell the cleaners to attend to the rooms then?"

"As I have said before, I will inform you when I no longer have need of them. Have you other company to prepare for? Surely by now word of your club has spread, has it not?"

"We expect business to be steady."

"An excellent report for the Queen then. I shall be certain to send your regards when I see her next."

"My partners and I would certainly appreciate that." They fell into the nicities of politics.

"Ah yes, how are LongShadow and Pamela?"

"We are all well."

"And surely quite busy at a time like this?"

"Not so busy that I cannot enquire after my guests."

"Well I will not keep your attentions from your duties then Sherriff, as I expect you will not keep me from mine."

Andre moved past the Sherriff, who had remained virtually motionless, leaning against the ornamental fence railing that surrounded the small front yard of the building.

"Perhaps you should bring this woman by the club?" Eric let the invitation slip from his lips like a rapid knife strike, stopping Andre in his tracks.

"And to which woman do you refer Sherriff?"

"The one you are having sex with." The corners of his mouth turned up as he waited for a response to his verbal 'checkmate'.

"Are you certain there is only one?" Andre shot back a wry grin as he left, outwardly playing the game, inwardly feeling sick.

As he had expected, the collie was waiting for him at the end of Sookie's drive.

"And what have you to say to me shifter?" Andre didn't even wait until Sam had changed back into his human form. He also didn't care that the man was standing naked in front of him; no more than Sam seemed to care himself. The exchange with Northman had made him edgy, and angry and the shifter was well poised to receive that fury.

"Stay away from Sookie Stackhouse." Sam's voice was even toned, but his scent betrayed an uncertainty, trying to be hidden under the bravado.

"Why?"

"Because she is an innocent girl who doesn't need to be drawn into your world Vampire."

"She is perfectly capable of making her own choices, and it would seem that she has done just that." Andre twisted up his smile, showing just a bit of fang. "Why is it any concern of yours?"

"She is my employee, and my friend. I don't want to see her get hurt."

"Your friend and your employee?" Andre paused, let his lips part and drew in a satisfied breath that he didn't really need. Things were becoming clearer. "You're in love with her, aren't you?"

Sam stuttered.

"She doesn't know the truth of you Vampire." Sam tried to growl at Andre, but it came out more like a harsh whisper through gritted teeth.

"Oh, and she knows the truth of you? Which one of us is deceiving her more?"

"Leave her alone!"

"Or what?"

"Or I will tell her who you work for."

"And what difference will that make? Perhaps she should know whom she works for and that you have been stalking her at night. What do you think will bother her more?"

"You have thousands of women you could choose from, why her?"

"Because she is special to me." It was perhaps more than he should have said but Sookie's nearness was beginning to encroach on him.

"You are only interested in her because of her skills."

"I do not have to justify myself to you. Now I suggest you go back to your bar, and mind your own business."

"Sookie is my business."

"Not anymore she isn't, she is mine." Andre smiled, knowing it would frustrate the shifter.

"You don't know what you are getting yourself into Vampire."

"And what do you know about it?"

"Sookie has powerful friends."

"Like you? Like the panthers? Not much of a threat."

"You have no idea."

And it hit Andre, Sam did know a great deal more about Sookie then she even knew about herself. It was almost amusing how many secrets there were swirling around the woman, that she had not been made party to.

"You know what she is." He grinned again. That revelation threw Sam off his game for another moment.

"I don't care if you tell her what I am Vampire. I will expose your ties to the Queen, I will tell Sookie what kind of a person you really are. I will tell her every rumor I have heard about you and your dealings on behalf of your Queen. And I will tell others about you. Others who have a great deal of power."

Andre knew exactly who Sam was referring to, even if Sam wasn't willing to say it out loud.

"Go home Shifter, and do what you need to do. I will do what I have to do."

And he walked away, not looking backwards, focused on the dimly lit porch to the exclusion of all else. There was nothing he could do anymore, the choices had all been taken from him; he fought back the bile and cold shock. He needed to see her, even if it was to say goodbye. But damned as he was just then, it was not going to be forever.

As if she had been waiting for him to appear, Sookie stepped out onto the porch as Andre approached. She was wearing a beautiful blue sundress, and her golden hair was loose in waves over her shoulders like the sun crowning the sky; even though it had been centuries since Andre had seen such a thing with his own eyes. His chest began to ache.

"Hi Andre!" She called out, as innocent and enthusiastic as a schoolgirl in love, not caring who might hear. Rushing to her side he pulled her into his arms and held her against his chest, feeling and committing to memory the smell of her, the sound of her heartbeat, and the warmth of her body.

"Andre? What's wrong?" He only clung to her harder. "Andre?"

"Oh Sookie." She stiffened in his grasp and pulled backwards a little.

"You're leaving, aren't you?" She said.

He wasn't even surprised that she understood. Nothing about her, not even her abilities to read him after such a short time, seemed out of the realm of her talents.

"I don't want to go." He whispered as he let her go.

"Then why?" Her eyes were beginning to tear up, and the sparkles were as enchanting as her blood.

"I have to keep you safe."

"And going away will keep me safe? I've seen you, you're strong enough to take on anything."

"Not anything Sookie, not hardly." He took both her hands and tried to guide her to sit.

"I don't want to you leave Andre."

He dropped to his knees in front of her, his head hanging as his misery overwhelmed him.

"I'll come with you." She squeaked.

"You can't." He looked up at her and she gasped at the site of him, crimson staining his face.

"You're bleeding." Sookie reached out with her fingertips to touch his cheeks.

"I'm crying." Tears fell over the rims of her eyes as well.

"Please Andre?"

"Look at me Sookie, look into my eyes."

"I love you Andre."

His resolve wavered for just a moment, and he had to answer her plea.

"I love you too Sookie." Her smile was beautiful, and he stared at her for a good few moments, steeling himself. "You are so special Sookie. You make me feel so worthwhile, and so loved, and that is the only reason I am doing this." He touched her lips before she could say anything else. "Look at me." And he had her.

"Sookie, when I finish speaking to you, you will feel exhausted and you will sleep peacefully this whole night. When you wake, to the sun and the day, you will not remember anything of what has happened between us. You will not remember meeting me." He hated the transfixed look of her eyes, feeling as if he was violating every trust she had placed in him. "You will be innocent once again. But I will return for you. When next I see you I will have made everything safe for us. And when next you taste my blood you will remember it all; how much I have loved you, and how it has felt when we made love." He caressed her cheek. "I will protect you forever Sookie. I promise this to you."

"I leave you with one gift my cherished one. There is something so very special about you, something I need you to bring out. Other vampires will cross your path and I will not let any of them force you to do anything against your free will." He understood the hypocrisy of his statement, but he had to keep talking, or risk falling apart completely. "In your mind there is a place, a place that you can draw on, if any Vampire comes to you and tries to glamour you. You will let it come to the fore, to keep them out of your mind. I leave you with this small measure of protection when I can not be at your side."

He wiped an angry tear from his cheek, not breaking his gaze, not blinking, afraid of the finality of the gesture. He fumbled for her hands, twining his fingers into hers, squeezing against the limpness he had created.

"I will love you forever Sookie. Now go and sleep, you are exhausted." He dropped his eyes to the ground until she stood and walked away from him. Andre heard the screen door open, pause, and then close carefully. He let the sob he had been holding in tumble out.

"That was the bravest thing I have ever seen anyone do."

"I don't feel very brave." Andre whispered to the faded boards beneath his feet.

"You made a heartbreaking choice, but you did it for the right reasons Andre." He looked up at the elderly woman who was watching him with a calm reverence, but didn't stand.

"Did I Adele? Did I do right by her? Is it fair to take all this away from her?"

"It is the only thing you could do." Adele's hands were clutched together, and her head cocked to the left, the halo of grey hair framing her head in an angelic sort of fashion.

"You know what she is don't you? And you know all about me?"

"Yes." She nodded sweetly, "on both counts."

"And you don't hate me?"

"For loving my granddaughter? Oh no. I would be the last person to judge how and why people fall in love, and what they do in its name. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt Andre. And you have proved to be worth it."

"I hate this." He finally rose, steadying himself on the arm of one of the patio chairs.

"I know you do, it is so obvious."

"I will come back for her. Do you believe me?"

"I do."

"You are an amazing woman Adele Stackhouse. Sookie is lucky to have you."

The two stared at each other for a moment. Andre could hear Adele's even breathing and her even heartbeat. She wasn't at all scared of him, and for an odd reason that gave Andre some comfort.

"Are you going to take away my memory of you as well?" It was quite matter of fact, the way Adele asked, as if she clearly expected an affirmative answer and was not at all bothered by the notion.

"No. I have no doubt that you can keep my secret, you seem adept at things like that. Besides, other vampires may come in search of Sookie, perhaps other supernaturals as well. If they mean to harm her I need you to be able to contact me." Andre reached into the pocket of his pants and pulled out a wrinkled piece of paper. He'd written the numbers on it much earlier in the night, not quite certain then into whose hand he would entrust it. He held it out for Adele to take.

"There are two numbers there. The top one is my private telephone; you must try that one first. The bottom one is for the place where I live. Tell whomever you speak to you first name only, and that you need to speak with me. You must insist on it, and I have no doubt you will convince them to pass on the message. I will come to her, and to you as quickly as I can; or I will send someone trustworthy in my stead."

"I'll hide it somewhere safe so Sookie doesn't find it." She put it into the pocket of her dress carefully.

"Speak kindly of my people Adele, so that when I return Sookie will not be frightened of me, and I may restore what I have taken."

"I will."

"I offer you my sincere thanks Adele. I will never forget your kindness."

"Or I yours Andre. Take care of yourself."

"Until we meet again then?"

"Till then."

ooOOoo

Fate has a way of playing with all beings, human or otherwise.

Andre had no way of knowing that his entreaty could not be fulfilled, that Adele would be murdered before any Vampyric threat to Sookie had revealed itself to her. He waited for a phone call that never came, not daring to make inquiries, however subtle, especially after Compton had been dispatched to continue to monitor the Bon Temps 'situation'. He kept himself busy and distracted for far longer than the months he had hoped it would take to establish Sophie Ann into the breather world; driving himself towards an established position that would allow him to claim Sookie as his own with no objection in the eyes of the court and the Sheriffs. The summit was supposed to be that place, that opportunity to set Sophie Ann on her pedestal and then withdraw from her constant desires and needs. His maneuvering had ensured Sookie would be there, which would give him the opportunity to find her, but again fate stepped forward, and when he finally was able to get her alone and into a position to have her that cursed Sherriff had appeared to seemingly 'rescue' her from his evil clutches. He had been so close to having her take his blood then in that back hall. To his dismay he watched as she took Northman's blood, and the bond that was growing between them sickened him greatly, it had taken everything he had not to kill Northman in front of her in his rage. But he did not wish Sookie to see that violence in him, and to have it color her resurfaced memories, and so he had stepped back, swallowing all emotions, masking himself with the haughty indifference and danger he had always shown to others, and prepared himself to wait one more night before revealing the truth to Sookie.

The explosion in the hotel had also not been anticipated, and Andre had barely been aware enough in his daytime slumber to ensure Sophie Ann's temporary safety. He felt the fall he took as nearly endless, and the pain of the landing, but still it seemed so hard to piece it all together. When the debris had been pulled away from his broken body the appearance of the tiger, backlit by the sunshine he had so long abandoned had been a true surprise. There had not even been time to consider his own true death before the stake pierced his chest, or time to wonder if Sookie would somehow morn his loss.

Fin

A sincere thank you to everyone who has lent me some of their precious time by reading this story. Also thanks to everyone who sent in reviews. I know this is not my typical HEA, but I had always intended to keep this within cannon. I hope you can forgive me.